Aerosol-can dispensing cap

ABSTRACT

A dispensing cap for use on a pressurized aerosol-type can is characterized by a circular, pressure-receptive diaphragm flexibly spanning the upper reaches of a wall means surrounding the discharge part of the can. Liquid conduit means between an orifice centered in the diaphragm transfer pressure applied to the diaphragm and an orificed depressible valve actuator element in the discharge part. Light manual application of a compress or the like to the diaphragm results in the emission of a portion of the pressurized contents of the can and wetting of the applied article.

iinited States Patent [191 Gores Feb. 19, 1974 [54] AEROSOL-CAN DISPENSING CAP 3,323,692 6/1967 Cook 251 342 x lnvgntor: Kenneth w. Gores, 1026 112th 3,333,744 8/1967 Nllsen et al 222/402.13

Beneyue wash' Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. [21] pp No; 287,778 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFord E. Smith 52 U S Cl 222 402 13 [57] ABSTRACT 51} In} .Cl B653 83214 A dispensing p for use on a Pressurized aerosol type [58] Fie'ld 4 213 514 can is characterized by a circular, pressure-receptive 222/518 Z 7 diaphragm flexibly spanning the upper reaches of a Z01/183485 6 128/239 wall means surrounding the discharge part of the can. 249 6 Liquid conduit means between an orifice centered in the diaphragm transfer pressure applied to the dia- [56] References Cited phragm and an orificed depressible valve actuator element in the discharge part. Light manual application UNITED STATES PATENTS of a compress or the like to'the diaphragm results in 3,211,384 10/1965 Seaquist 222/402.13 X the emission of a portion of the pressurized contents 3,383,879 5/1968 Tlce 222/402.13 X of the can and wetting of the applied article 3,404,814 l0/l968 Wakeman... 222/213 X 3,692,215 9/1972 Ni ro 222/402.13 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 AEROSOL-CAN DISPENSING CAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

One-handed wetting of compresses, cotton pads and the like is important to persons in the medical and dental professions among others. A common practice is to open a bottle of liquid and pour some of the contents into a bowl or shallow plate from which the liquid is transferred to an absorbent carrier and thence to the point of use. Generally such an operation requires two hands especially when the bottle is capped or stoppered as is usually the case. Many times it occurs that the operator is employing one hand to grip a patients body or arm and has only the one other hand free to perform the wetting operation and to apply the wetted carrier. To an extent the problem may be overcome by using pressurized containers from which the wetting liquid is expelled or emitted in the form of a spray or highpressure stream or fog. In such case the carrier must be placed upon a surface and the container operated to direct the stream at the carrier. The container is then set down, the carrier picked up manually, and the transfer application is made. This risks contaminating the carrier, causing the misapplication of the liquid onto surfaces surrounding the carrier, and is wasteful. When the pressure container is an aerosol can and the liquid stream is to be discharged downward, an excessive amount of the gas-propellant may escape due to the internal tube end being above the liquid level in the container. Aerosol cans are best operated as near the vertical as possible so that the tube end is under the liquid surface at all times.

The main object of this invention is the provision of a dispensingcap for aerosol cans which may be used upright to wet compresses and like carriers, which in such use can be operated single-handedly; which permits a dispensing operation upon the application of only nominal pressure; which is easy and inexpensive to construct and operate; and which reduces waste and avoids indiscriminate dispensing of liquid in the envi-' ronment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

pensing cap of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The aerosol can of FIG. 1 supports cap 12 on its upper end. A lid 14 may be hingedly connected to the body of cap 12 by hinge means 16. A carrier compress 18 is shown being applied single-handedly to the cap to operate the can valve and to wet the carrier.

Referring to FIG. 2 it will be seen that can 10 has main body 20 surmounted by the major annular body portion 22 which necks in at 24 defining a reduced opening in which is placedthe valved discharge part 26 secured in place on the can by the rim 28. Discharge part 26 has an internal valve (not shown) which is operated by depressible stem element 30 of conventional nature. In some aerosol can discharge parts there is an upstanding hollow stem 30 to which pressure is applied to open the internal valve whereupon the can contents emit upward through the stem. In others the valve operating element is a hollow stem forming part of a cap as of an operator button. Since the exact construction of the valved dispensing part forms no part of this invention the internal details are omitted from the drawings. Cap 12 in preferred form comprises a cylindrical wall means 32 of considerable size substantially as large around as can 10. Wall means 32 rise above the depressible valve operating element. Wall 32 mounts on can 10 about the body portion 22. It should be apparent that wall means 32 may be open work. The important considerations are stiffness and height.

Diaphragm 34 is disposed to span the upper reaches of wall 32 below the rim 33. Diaphragm 34 is depressed when manual pressure is applied as indicated by the shaded arrow in FIG. 2. The preferred form of diaphragm 34 is flexible and shaped to provide the concavo-convexarrangement shown. It will however be apparent that a thin, planar diaphragm may on occasion be employed. Diaphragm 34 is a circular pressurereceptor of broad dimension for easy accessibility during use. Its periphery. is flexibly integrated with said wall 32 by means of the collar 36 rising around its sou-- ter edge for connection with outstanding flange 38 joining rim 33 of the wall means 32.

Note that wall means 32, diaphragm 34 and the elements 36 and 38 are all preferablyintegrally molded, preferably of a resilient plastic such as, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylcellulose and like materials. The molding material should be chemically inert, easy to mold, easily cleaned, and inherently strong but flexible and resilient. By reason of these characteristics the wall means 32 is easily but firmly fixed to the can at 22. Also by reason of these characteristics and having due regard to proportioning of thicknesses, it is possile to make the cap 12 so that a mere feather-touch will be sufficient to depress dia phragm 34.

Orifice 40 at the center of diaphragm 34 aligns with stem 30. Pressure transmitting conduit means in the preferred form of cap 12 as shown comprises the relatively stiff nipple 42 which mates with stem 30. Pressure on diaphragm 34 is transmitted downward through nipple 42 and stem 30 to the usual depressible springpressed element-that operates the valve of the dispensing part 26. By reason of diaphragm 34 having a large size relative the valve actuator means it will be seen that an operator has a substantial mechanical advantage at his finger tips to open the valve. Because of the softness of the diaphragm and its flexible periphery it will also be seen that upon the release of pressure the valve will automatically close without hindrance from the diaphragm 34. In fact, the upwardly bowed normal disposition of the concave-convex form of diaphragm tends to aid and insure valve closing since the nippple 42 tightly mated with stem 30 tends to draw stem 30 upward as the diaphragm resumes its normal disposition.

Collar 50 is useful to immobilize the assembly during shipment or otherwise. It supplies, between the can top and the diaphragm underside, rigid means precluding downward pressure on stem 30 and the valve operated thereby. Normally collar 50 will be removed and dis posed of at the time the assembly is initially placed in use.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an aerosol can having a cen- 1 trally located valved discharge part including an orificed element depressible to operate the valve of the discharge part,

a dispensing cap, comprising:

continuous wall means firmly upstanding above a major annular portion of said can in encircling spaced apart relation about said discharge part and rising thereabove;

a circular, pressure-receptive, diaphragm imperforate except for a centrally located orifice, said diaphragm being disposed to fully span the upper reaches of said wall means above said discharge part, said diaphragm being flexibly intergrated with said wall means .by a suspension collar rising entirely about said diaphragm periphery and forming a shallow basin, said collar being hingedly connected at its upper rim to said wall means;

pressure transmitting conduit means coupling between the underside of said diaphragm in communication with said centrally located orifice and said depressible, orificed element, said conduit means providing upward passageway from said element for fluid emitted from said discharge part to the centrally located orifice of said diaphragm.

2. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which said diaphragm is flexible and is concavo-convex and normally is bowed away from the discharge part.

3. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which the pressure transmitting conduit means includes a socket on the underside of said diaphragm aligned with said centrally located orifice and is coupled with the depressible valve operating element.

4. The dispensing cap of claim 3 in which the socket comprises a stiff nipple matingly coupled with the depressible element that operates the valve.

5. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which the suspension collar of said diaphragm is connected to the rim of said wall means by an outstanding flange. 

1. In combination with an aerosol can having a centrally located valved discharge part including an orificed element depressible to operate the valve of the discharge part, a dispensing cap, comprising: continuous wall means firmly upstanding above a major annular portion of said can in encircling spaced apart relation about said discharge parT and rising thereabove; a circular, pressure-receptive, diaphragm imperforate except for a centrally located orifice, said diaphragm being disposed to fully span the upper reaches of said wall means above said discharge part, said diaphragm being flexibly intergrated with said wall means by a suspension collar rising entirely about said diaphragm periphery and forming a shallow basin, said collar being hingedly connected at its upper rim to said wall means; pressure transmitting conduit means coupling between the underside of said diaphragm in communication with said centrally located orifice and said depressible, orificed element, said conduit means providing upward passageway from said element for fluid emitted from said discharge part to the centrally located orifice of said diaphragm.
 2. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which said diaphragm is flexible and is concavo-convex and normally is bowed away from the discharge part.
 3. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which the pressure transmitting conduit means includes a socket on the underside of said diaphragm aligned with said centrally located orifice and is coupled with the depressible valve operating element.
 4. The dispensing cap of claim 3 in which the socket comprises a stiff nipple matingly coupled with the depressible element that operates the valve.
 5. The dispensing cap of claim 1 in which the suspension collar of said diaphragm is connected to the rim of said wall means by an outstanding flange. 